Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey says it’s a different Denver team than the one that lost to New England in the playoffs: “It was pretty obvious we didn’t give our best effort (in) the last game,” Bailey said. “It was disappointing to get that far and not give 100 percent, but it is what it is. This is a different year, a different breed of guys on this team.”

Champ Bailey usually moves on quickly from football disappointments in his quest for the first Super Bowl trip of his decorated career. But there is a little something from last January’s crushing 45-10 playoff loss in New England that remains a sore point in his mind as the Broncos prepare to return to Foxborough, Mass., this weekend.

“To win, we obviously need to do things right, but we know we can win (this year),” Bailey said. “I didn’t feel like there (were) 53 guys that thought we could win (last year) and it showed.”

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady finished the divisional- round game with 363 yards passing and six touchdowns, four coming in the Patriots’ 28-point second quarter. The loss was the launching point for the Broncos’ offseason makeover, which included signing Peyton Manning, cornerback Tracy Porter and safety Mike Adams in free agency.

“It was pretty obvious we didn’t give our best effort (in) the last game,” Bailey said. “It was disappointing to get that far and not give 100 percent, but it is what it is. This is a different year, a different breed of guys on this team.

“It’s really not the loss that disappointed me more than just the effort. They outplayed us, but they weren’t that much better than us that they could beat us like that, and that’s what’s really disappointing.”

One a lonely number. Broncos linebacker Von Miller faced the Patriots twice last season and finished with one tackle, including being listed with a no-tackle day in the playoff loss.

He was also playing with his right hand heavily wrapped — he could not grab with his fingers — to protect his injured right thumb.

Miller said Thursday he looks forward to the chance to have more impact this time against the Patriots’ high-powered offense.

“My first two games I played with a club on my hand,” Miller said. “It will be good to go out (Sunday) and play with two hands.”

Brady has been sacked eight times this season, four of those coming against Arizona in Week 2.

Kuper gets more work. For the first time since he fractured his left forearm early in training camp, Broncos guard Chris Kuper had full participation in a practice.

It sets the stage for the veteran’s possible return to the lineup Sunday.

“It’d be great,” said Broncos coach John Fox. “I know it’d be great for him. He’s been through a lot with the ankle in the offseason and the forearm in the preseason. At the end of the day, he would much rather be out here than in that training room. I’m sure he’s excited about it.”

Footnotes. None of the Broncos were limited in Thursday’s practice. In addition to Kuper, linebacker Nate Irving (concussion) took part in full … For the Patriots, safety Steve Gregory (hip) and wide receiver Julian Edelman (hand) did not practice Thursday. Tight end Rob Gronkowski (hip) was among several Patriots players listed as limited in the workout … Broncos fullback Chris Gronkowski said there was a time when he could have covered his younger brother.

“Back in the day? I would kill him back then. He was tiny back then.’ he said.

MONTREAL — It’s a big deal to play or coach hockey in Montreal and Toronto, and for first-year Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, it’s bound to be extra special because it will be his first time in those historic Original Six markets. Indeed, the Canadian native from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, has never been to the Bell Centre or Air Canada Centre — where...

Shortly before the season began, Holmes, who had been dealing with a nagging hip since September, finally went in to get an X-ray to get the injury addressed. That X-ray revealed a mass on his hip, and following a biopsy, doctors diagnosed Holmes with Osteosarcoma.